Bristol City striker Nahki Wells is a target for Preston North End, Bristol Live understands, with the Robins’ Championship rivals having made an enquiry regarding the 32-year-old’s availability in this window.
Preston, who want to sign at least one forward this summer, possibly more, are yet to make an official approach but have contacted City to find out what it will take to sign the Bermudian international on a permanent deal.
Ryan Lowe would like to bring Aston Villa striker Cameron Archer back on loan for another season, but that is not guaranteed, while Preston have also been linked with Andre Gray plus young Tottenham duo Troy Parrott and Dane Scarlett.
Wells has not yet reported for pre-season training at Bristol City after being given an extended break following his involvement for Bermuda in the Nations League earlier this month. He is expected to join the squad next week for their European training camp.
He is entering the final year of his contract at Ashton Gate and his future is uncertain given how little he was used by Nigel Pearson last season, making just seven Championship starts, with a further 25 appearances off the bench.
Wells' situation is not helped by his status as one of the highest-earners at the club, having arrived from Burnley in January 2020 as a marquee signing, and City are simply not getting value on the pitch for the money they are investing in him.
But speaking last month, Pearson insisted that he’d like to keep Wells on board, valuing his quality and attitude in what was a challenging season for him, due to his relative lack of inactivity as Andi Weimann, Chris Martin and Antoine Semenyo all enjoyed impressive campaigns in front of goal.
That feeling could now be further reinforced by the fact that, having been essentially relegated behind Semenyo last season, Wells has been instantly moved up the pecking order again following the 22-year-old’s shin injury.
Semenyo is not expected to return until September, leaving Pearson’s striking options as last season’s top scorer Weimann, veteran Martin, Wells and academy prospects Sam Bell and Tommy Conway.
There is every reason to suggest therefore that Wells has an excellent chance of starting the season for City, albeit with the knowledge that once Semenyo returns it puts him in danger of falling down the hierarchy again.
With his contract expiring next summer, City face the awkward situation of potentially having to keep a player as injury cover for the next 12 months, while paying out in excess of £1m on his salary.
There is no present desire at the club to extend his current terms - as is the case with a number of the 2019/20 transfer intake - as the wage ceiling across the Championship, not just in BS3, has fallen considerably since the financial impact of Covid-19 on the league’s finances.
Cardiff City and Swansea City were unsuccessful with loan bids in January for the 32-year-old, while Wells has indicated there were also enquiries made last summer, but he chose to stay in the West Country and fight for his place.
From a professional point of view, he’s not likely to push for a move but, at the same time, as he approaches the 13th season of his professional career in England, he wants to be in a position to play as many games as possible and that doesn’t look likely at City beyond the start of the campaign when Semenyo is out.
Should Wells be moved on, that would almost certainly force Pearson into the market to sign a replacement in the position, something that will also come into City’s decision making given how challenging finding, and potentially paying for, a Championship-level striker is.
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